Series

Connect With Us

On Media

NY-19: Sean Eldridge formally announces

By Dylan Byers

09/23/13 12:11 AM EDT

After months of preparation, Sean Eldridge, the progressive investor and husband of Facebook co-founder and New Republic owner Chris Hughes, has formally announced his congressional campaign in New York's 19th district.

In a three-minute YouTube video released late Sunday night, Eldridge touted a modest upbringing in Ohio, his work on the environment and campaign finance reform, and his firm Hudson River Ventures while seeking to appeal to "every day New Yorkers" fed up with Washington gridlock. His campaign will release a formal press release on Monday morning.

"I love the Hudson Valley. It's where I’m building my family, my home, and my business. Right now the voices of everyday New Yorkers are being drowned out by the special interests and party politics causing gridlock in Washington," the Democratic hopeful says in the video. "We need an independent voice who will fight for us. And that’s why I’m running for Congress."

Eldridge's competitor is the incumbent Rep. Chris Gibson, a moderate Republican and war veteran. Taking its cue from past attacks by the National Republican Congressional Committee, the Gibson campaign responded to Eldridge's video by portraying him as a wealthy elite trying to buy his way to Washington.

"This comes as no surprise. He purchased a multimillion dollar home in our district in January, filed to run for Congress in February, and then cleared up his voter registration problems a few months later. He's been raising money from wealthy friends while at the same time touting an economic plan that boils down to loaning his potential constituents money," Stephanie Valle, a Gibson spokesperson, said in a statement.

"One thing is clear -- this race will test the hypothesis of whether Congressional seats can be bought," she wrote. "Frankly, if he needed to introduce himself to voters, there was no need to spend more of his money creating a new website and video. The New York Times's lengthy, front-page profile tells everyone all they need to know."